Safety control for riveting machines and the like



SAFETY] 1 I B.- J.- YANcHENKo 2,324,660 CONTROL FRy RIVETING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Fiied um. v2o, 1942 2 sheets-snaai 1 INVENTOR BASIL J. YANCHENKO 'lamb July 20, 1943.

` B. J. YANCHENKO.

SAFETY CONTROL FOR R'IVETING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 Sh-eets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2O 1942 INVENTOR BASIL J.

YANCHENKO Patented July 20, 1943 SAFETY CONTROL FOR RIVETING MACHINES AND THE LllE Basil J. Yanchenko, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 20, 1942, Serial No. 427,479

(Cl. wil- 133) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to power` operated machines, which have an opening and closing movement, and a guard around the operating zone of the machine operable to disable the operation of the machine, in the event the guard comes in anism in which any lblow received by the operator from the guard is inconsequential but suiilcient to disable the actuating mechanism of the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the invention is shown as applied to a pneumatic riveting machine for applying rivets, as hollow rivets and the like, to an article, as a piece of cloth, fabric, leather, etc., one rivet being applied in each operation. In such riveting operation, the operator is called upon to hold the work` over the anvil of the riveting machine, and in so ding is liable to get his ngers in the range of movement of the guard.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional View illustrative of a pnuematic riveting machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view or `parts seen in Figure 1 illustrating the disabling operation, when the guard encounters an obstruction.

Figure 3 is a plan View of parts seen in Figure 2, parts being omitted. l

Figure 4 (Sheet 1) is a detail view of the control Valve and the pneumatically operated exhaust valve.

This invention consists of guard operated means for disabling the actuating mechanism of a machine having an opening and closing movement, as for instance, a riveting machine, operable by the movement of the guard out of nor,- mal position, when it encounters an obstruction for exhausting the air from a pneumatic motor of the actuating mechanism of the riveting machine. The machine here illustrated comprises a movable element, as the reciprocating head I movable toward and from a stationary element or anvil 2.

The mechanism for actuating the head I may be of any suitable construction, that here shown for the purpose of illustration comprises a pneumatic motor including a casing as a cylinder 3 suitably carried by the frame 4 of the machine, a single acting piston 5 movable in the cylinder against the action of a returning spring 6, the motion of the piston being `transferred to the head I by a connecting rod I pivoted at one end at 8 to the piston and at its other end at 9 to the joint of a toggle consisting of links IB and II; the linkY Il) being pivoted at its outer end at I2 to a suitable head I3 of the frame and the link I I being pivoted at its outer end at I4 to the head. The head I slides in the frame head I3. "I'he cylinder 3 forms an overhanging bracket supporting the frame head I3. Thelinks I0 and II `are normally arranged infolded position, so that the head I is retracted. The links are movable to straightened position by the pneumatic 'pressure on the piston 5 moving the `piston"`5 to the left (Figure Il)l against the action offthe springt.

I5 designates the guard, this guard surrounding the path of movement of the head I'- and normally being elevated-far enough `above nthe anvil 2 to permit the work to be placed on the anvil. The guard I5, during each'operationof the control mechanism, moves toward the anvil 2 in advance of the head I, and if during such move-- mentit encounters an obstruction, as the iinger of the operator, it operates to disable the cylinder and piston motor 3,* 5 by exhausting any air in the-cylinder out of the cylinder. As the power is air, `the vcontrols forthe flow of air are valves. IB designates a control valve `for controlling the flow of air from a suitable source tothe cylinder 3'through an intake port Il. The valve I6 here shownris of the combined intake and exhaust type including a casing having a normally `closed intake valve head I8 therein and a normally open exhaust valve head I9, these being connected t0- gether, so that they act as a unit. The intake end of the casing of the valve I6 is connected by a pipe 2| to a suitable source of supply.` The cylinder 3 is also provided with an exhaustport 22 in the head thereof, `this being controlled by a normally closed exhaust valve 23 including a suitable casing having a spring-pressed valve head 24 therein; The exhaust valve `is opened against its spring by pneumatically operated means, as a diaphragm 25 in a diaphragm chamber 26 acting on a plunger 2l, which in turn acts on one end of the lever 23 pivoted at 29 between its ends, the other end of the `lever thrusting against the stem 30 onthe exhaust valve head 24.

The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber is connected by a pipe 3| to the casing of a valve 32 operated by the guard, which valve is connected to the source of supply, as through the pipe 2|. The valve 32 is of the combined intake and exhaust type and includes normally open exhaust valve head and the normally closed intake valve head. The valve 32 is of the same general construction as the valve I6.

The control valve is operated by operator-operated mechanism, this usually being a pedal, not shown, and a rod 33 connected to a motion transmitting part, as a lever 34, pivoted at 35 to the casing of the valve I6 and coacting with the stem 36 of the movable valve member of the valve I6. The rod 33 is connected to the lever 34 by a lost motion connection for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The guard I5 is supported by a carrier, which includes relatively movable members, one of which is connected to the operator-operated means or the rod 3.3 to be operated thereby, and the other of which is connected to the guard and capable of having a movement relatively to the former member, when the guard encounters an obstruction. The relative movement of the members operates the valve 32. One of the members of the guard carrier, as here shown, includes a lever 31 pivoted between its ends at 38 to the frame, one arm of the lever being pivoted at 39 to the operating rod 33, and the other arm being pivoted at 40 to the other member of the carrier, this being an extension 4| of the lever 3l. The relative movement of the members of the guard carrier, that is, the pivotal movement of the extension 4| is yieldingly resisted by a relatively light spring 42. The pivotal movement of the extension 4| operates the stem 43 of the valve 32 to close its exhaust valve head and open its intake valve head. The spring 42, as here shown, is connected to an adjustable bracket 44 mounted on the pivot 42 and adjusted to various angular positions relative to the extension 4|, in order to adjust the timing of the operation of the valve 32. The arm 44 is held in its adjusted position relative to the extension 4l by a set screw 45. The intake end of the casing of the valve 32 is connected to the pipe 2| by a pipe or tube 46. The operating rod 33 is connected to the lever 34 by a pin-and-slot yconnection consisting of a lengthwise slot 41 in the rod for receiving the pin 48 on the lever. This connection constitutes means for operating the guard from its starting position down into its operative position in advance to the opening of the control valve I6.

In operation, after the operator has placed the Work with the rivet thereon over the anvil 2, depresses the pedal, which causes the operating rod 33 to thrust upwardly, thus first rocking the guard carrier 3'! about its pivot 38 to carry the guard down to entirely close the space between the riveting head and the anvil 2. After so actuating the guard carrying lever, the lost motion is taken up between the rod 33 and the lever 34, so that the control valve 6 is operated to permit air to flow from the source through the pipe 2|, valve I6, port into the cylinder 3 to actuate the piston 5 therein to bring the riveting head down into coaction with the rivet on the anvil 2. Upon release of the foot pedal, the air will exhaust back through the port and valve l@ to the outer air. The valve I6 is shown in its operated position in Figure 4. If the guard l5 encounters 'an obstruction, as the finger of an operator, as shown in Figure 2, the guard is arrested in its movement, and the extension 4| moved about the pivot 43 into the position shown in Figure 2, this operating the valve 32 to close its exhaust and open its intake, so that the air passes from pipe 2| through pipe 46, valve 32 and pipe 3| to the diaphragm chamber 26, actuating the diaphragm into the position shown in Figure 4, to open the exhaust valve head 24, so that the exhaust port is open to the exhaust of air from the cylinder 5, when during the continued operation of the rod 33, the control valve I6 is opened to the intake of air, so that when the guard does encounter an obstruction, the actuating mechanism, that is, the cylinder and piston 3, 5 is disabled. As the force required to move the guard, which itself is relatively light, on its pivot is inconsequential, the blow received by the operator from the guard is also light or inconsequential.

What I claim is:

l. In a safety control for machines which include a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element, and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism and operator-operated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to Clo-se the space between the head and the stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby and the other to the guard, the latter being normally movable as a unit with the former and relatively thereto upc-n the guard encountering an obstruction, and means operated by the relative movement of the members of the carrier to disable the actuating mechanism.

2. In a safety control for machines which include a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element, and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism and operator-operated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to close the space between the head and the stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby, and the other being pivoted to the former and connected to the guard, the members being normally movable as a unit and the pivoted member movable on its pivot when the guard encounters an obstruction, and means operated by the pivotal movement of the guard carrying member to disable the actuating mechanism.

3. In a safety control for machines which include a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element, and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism, and operator-operated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to close the space between the head and the stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby and the other to the guard, the latter being normally movable as a unit with the former and relatively thereto upon the guard encountering an obstruction, means operated by the relative movement of the members of the carrier to disable the actuating mechcarrying the guard, the

anism, and a spring for yieldingly resisting the relative movement of said members.

4. In a safety control for machines which include a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element, and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism, and operator-operated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to close the space between the head and the stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby, and the other being pivoted to the former and connected to the guard, the members being normally movable as a unit and the pivoted member movable on its pivot when the guard encounters an obstruction, means operated by the pivotal movement of the guard carrying member to disable the actuating mechanism, and a spring for yieldingly resisting the pivotal movement of the member connected to the guard.

5. In a safety control for machines which in clude a suitable frame, a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element. and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism, and operator-operated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to close the space between the head and the stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one being a lever pivoted to the frame between its ends and one arm thereof being connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby, the other member being an extension of the other arm of the lever and pivoted thereto and lever and extension being normally movable as a unit and the extension movable about its pivot when the guard encounters an obstruction, and means operated by the pivotal movement of the extension to disable the actuating means.

6. In a safety control for machines which include a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element, and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism, and operator-operated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to close the space between the head and the stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one being a lever pivoted to the frame between its ends and one arm thereof` being connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby, the other member being an extension of the other arm of the lever and pivoted thereto and carrying the guard, the lever and extension being normally movable as a unit and the extension movable about its pivot when the guard encounters an obstruction, means operated by the pivotal movement of the extension to disable the actuating means, and a spring for yieldingly resisting the pivotal movement of the extension.

7. Ina safety control for machines which include a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element, and mechanism for actuating the head; the combination of a control for the actuating mechanism, and operatoroperated means for the control, a guard movable in advance of the head to close the space between the head andthe stationary element, a carrier for the guard including relatively movable members, one connected to the operator-operated means to be operated thereby and the other to the guard, the latter being normally movable as a unit with the former and relatively thereto upon the guard encountering an obstruction, and means operated by the relative movement of the members ci the carrier to disable the actuating mechanism, the operator-operated means including mechanism for operating the guard in advance of the control.

8. In a safety control for machines which include a frame, a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element; the combination of a pneumatically operated actuating mechanism for the head including a casing and a movable member working therein, said casing having an intake port and an exhaust port, a comb-ined intake and exhaust control valve for the intake port normally arranged with the exhaust open and the intake closed, a normallyclosed exhaust valve for the exhaust port, and pneumatic means for operating it, a guard movable to close the space between the head and the stationary element preliminary to the closing movement of the head, operator-operated means for operating the control valve, a -movable carrier for the guard operated by the operatoroperated means, the carrier including relatively movable members, means for yieldingly holding the members from relative movement, one of said members carrying the guard, a combined intake and exhaust valve ior controlling the iiow of motive uid to the pneumatically operated means normally arranged with its exhaust open and the intake closed and operable by the relative movement of the members of the carrier to open the intake and close the exhaust.

9. In a safety control for machines which include a frame, a stationary element and a head having an opening and closing movement toward and from the stationary element; the combination of a pneumatically operated actuating mechanism for the head including a casing and a movable member working therein, said casing having an intake port and an exhaust port, a combined intake and exhaust control valve for the intake port normally arranged with the exhaust open and the intake closed, a normallyclosed exhaust valve for the exhaust port, and pneumatic means for operating it, a guar-d movable to close the space between the head and the static-nary element preliminary to the closing movement of the head, operator-operated means for operating the control valve, a movable carrier for the guard operated by the operatoroperated means, the carrier including relatively movable members, means for yieldingly holding the members from relative movement, one of said members carrying the guard, a combined intake and exhaust valve for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the pneumatically operated means normally arranged with its exhaust open and the intake closed and operable by the relative movement of the members of the carrier to open the intake and close the exhaust, the operator-operated means including mechanism for actuating the carrier to operate the guard in advance of the operation of the control valve. BASIL J. YANCHENKO. 

